Abstract: Five types of demulsifiers and their combinations were evaluated by means of thermo-chemical sedimentation dehydration and electrical desalting test, finally, oil soluble DE-2 was selected as the optimum demulsifier for electrical desalting of Venezuela heavy crude oil. The operation conditions for Venezuela heavy crude desalting were investigated by single factor analysis and orthogonal test using a SH-Ⅱ type electric desalter. Results showed that under the optimum desalting conditions of using DE-2 demulsifier with a dosage of 8 μg/g, weak electric field intensity of 500 V/cm, strong electric field intensity of 1 050 V/cm, both treating time of 15 min, sedimentation time of 30 min and system temperature of 130℃, the water content of the treated crude was 0.196%, which could meet the requirement for downstream processing.